I could do with pics from a 1974-ish Falcon catalog(ue) covering the plain-gauge Reynolds 531 area, as it might have been sold in the UK at that time. Does anyone know if there's anything scanned in on the web which I could take a look at? I'm particularly interested in matching frame transfers for a respray.

Also: how easy is it to detach and re-attach a head badge? It's quite a lovely thing, and I'd like it not to be bashed around in transit or accidentally shotblasted!

(Dated the bike based on components, and I can probably get a frame number for anyone who asks. Remnants of a 531 sticker - non-diagonal and probably meaning "main triangle plain gauge", Weinmann 999 centrepull brakes, Sugino Maxy cranks both dated May 1974 via the two-number code, and a lovely brown Brooks saddle whose metal is a bit grungy and rusty, but ISTR it's stamped as something early 1970s somewhere inconvenient near the nose bolt. Head tube badge is a shiny torch/olympic logo/falcon crest/Ernie Clements affair in goldy-looking metal and enamel. "Ernie Clements" is not written anywhere else on the bike. Not bad for 5 UKP in the right hands down the council recycling centre ^^)

Classic Rendezvous has a Falcon page that might help: https://classicrendezvous.com/British_isles/Falcon.htm

Neal

Yes, I gave it a look. The photos are good for 1960s machines, but less great for the 1970s:
Truth. The bike may be an Olympic, but that could very well be wishful thinking. There's no chromework on mine, for example, and the forks seem not to be an "Oval Italian style sloping crown".

Head badge is easy enough to remove, see other thread on here started today regarding headbadge removal.
Those pics on the Classic Rendezvous site of the late 60's bikes are very similar to what was common in the early 70's here in the States. I remember going with a friend to buy a Falcon during this period (about 1974). The bike had lower end campy parts, 3 tubes 531, and decals/paint scheme much like that shown on the classic rendezvous site. I believe the bike was light blue.

I had an Olympic purchased in 1978 that was exactly like yours with plain gauge 531, Sugino Maxy cranks, and Shimano Titlist derailleurs. Olympic was on a vinyl sticker on the chainstay which could have been lost on your frame. It cost $250 in 1978.

Nigel Land on the Classic Rendezvous list copied these specifications from a 1974 catalogue:
"Model 78/79 Olympic 531 plain gauge, cotterless chainset 5/10 speed.
Bottom of the range at £98.50"

Bottom of the range sounds harsh but this model equates to the middle range of competitor's bike lines.

I recently purchased a Falcon Super Route which seems to be identical to the Olympic from nearly the same time period (1974-1978). It's sitting behind me in my cube as it's my daily commuter. It has long point lugs and a normal flat crown and chrome only on the fork. I'd take a picture of it but I have no garage door which is de rigour. I paid a lot more than you did for it but it was still a great deal.

The tan one on the CR site is mine. Though 60s, Cyclart used 70s style graphics, so should be somewhat similar looking to yours. Mine was originally a medium metallic blue. If the headbadge is riveted, lightly drill the rivets until you can get it off cleanly. If screws, take them out. I think they took some liberties here and there. Here's what the lettering looks like:

I'm basing my guesses at the range on an earlier post here. Hope that's valid information. No visible seams, so at least it isn't the gas-pipe end of the spectrum

H Lloyd in Penrith seem to have a decent range of transfers, and their BW3 in white seems like a very good match indeed for the down tube decal (which is identical to https://www.schwinnbikes.com/heritage...ad.php?t=41671 , second image). My seat tube transfer is there too: FalconBlue.jpg and falcon.jpg No top tube sticker or small seat tube one with a Union Flag on mine, and the bike is in black rather than blue.

I'll follow up with a pic of my kitchen (+bike) if and when I get round to sorting it out, following established uk.r.c practice. Annoyingly, the "no kitchen" excuse is a little harder to pull off ^^ Thanks for all your help here!